Thoracic osteochondrosis is an unpleasant disease that has a long and often imperceptible development. The disease appears due to disruption of normal functioning and degenerative destruction of part of the vertebrae. Unlike the cervical and lumbar regions, the thoracic region is much less likely to experience osteochondrosis due to its low mobility.
Symptoms of Thoracic Osteochondrosis Grade 1
First-degree osteochondrosis has no pronounced characteristic symptoms, so a person decides to seek help from a doctor. Often, the emerging disease is confused with other pathologies of the body: arrhythmia, pneumonia, gastritis. Due to inaction, the disease continues to develop, assuming a more severe clinical picture.
The almost asymptomatic course of 1st degree osteochondrosis is explained by the peculiarities of the structure of the spine. But still, there are several symptoms that it is best to pay attention to when they appear:
- Sensation of pain in the chest region. May be confused with intercostal neuralgia;
- Unpleasant indentation in the shoulder;
- Tingling in the area of the heart, kidneys or stomach;
- Absence of obvious symptoms of back pain.
In stage 1, only compaction and decreased elasticity of the intervertebral cartilaginous tissue occurs. The column remains quite mobile. Due to the fact that the disease manifests itself mainly in other parts of the body, without manifesting pathology at the immediate site, it is difficult to make a diagnosis.
Symptoms of 2nd Degree Thoracic Osteochondrosis
The transition of the disease to stage 2 means a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc. As a result, the spine becomes less stable and the vertebrae acquire unhealthy mobility. At this stage, patients feel intense pain, signaling problems with the spine.
2nd degree osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, in contrast to 1st degree disease, is accompanied by pathological changes difficult to return to a healthy state. The morphological symptoms of the disease are manifested in the form of capsule rupture and the formation of bumps. A frequent occurrence at this stage is the occurrence of a fissure in the annulus fibrosus. Therefore, painful sensations are clearly felt directly in the affected area of the spine, due to which the diagnosis is greatly simplified. Clinically, this osteochondrosis looks like this:
- Recurrent pain in the chest area;
- Pinch in the chest.
- When you stay in one position for a long time, discomfort sets in;
- When you try to put your hand behind your head, you feel sharp pains;
- Decreased blood pressure;
- The appearance of scoliosis.
The occurrence of 2nd degree osteochondrosis is caused by the absence or poor treatment of 1st degree disease.
Symptoms of Thoracic Osteochondrosis 3 Degrees
If the treatment of 2nd degree osteochondrosis was carried out poorly or out of time, the disease moves to the next more dangerous stage 3.
Morphologically, in the spine of a sick person, a partial or complete destruction of the annulus fibrosus occurs. The fixation and shock absorption abilities of the vertebrae are drastically reduced, which leads to the formation of intervertebral protrusion and hernia, followed by pinched nerves. Symptoms are permanent and severe, causing complete discomfort:
- The appearance of sharp pains when coughing, taking a deep breath or just laughing;
- Constant pain in the affected area of the back;
- Intercostal neuralgia;
- Feeling pain in the heart;
- Possible numbness and cramping of the limbs;
- Discomfort restrictions in hand mobility;
- Signs of biliary dyskinesia and pancreatitis;
- Painful tingling in the solar plexus.
All of the above symptoms are for the most part a permanent obsessional character. After each dynamic or static load, there is a sharp increase in pain that persists even in the supine position. If this stage is also started, a change in the bone marrow occurs and the deficiency appears.
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis 2, 3 degrees
There is only a small fraction of the chance that the disease will go in the opposite direction. Basically, in the treatment of osteochondrosis, with a grade of 2 or 3, there is a delay or stop the degenerative development of the disease.
All proposed treatment methods and methods are divided into drug and non-drug therapies.
- Doctor. The main direction of drugs prescribed by a doctor is pain relief, stimulation of tissue microcirculation and reduction of inflammation. Medications relieve uncomfortable symptoms, helping to improve the patient's well-being. Depending on the manifestation of the disease, a person suffering from osteochondrosis may receive drug therapy that can:
- Relieve persistent pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed;
- Keeping fluids in the intervertebral disc cavity. The use of papain is recommended;
- Relieves spasms and pinching. Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics help;
- Restore a healthier state of cartilage tissue. Reception of hondroprotectors is shown.
- Non-drug. This type of therapy has a positive effect both on its own and in combination with traditional treatment. In the world, there are a huge number of ways to improve the condition of a person with osteochondrosis. The main ones are:
- Production of funds in accordance with the recommendations of traditional medicine. Application is found in infusions and decoctions of celery root or sunflower root, various ointments.
- Acupuncture;
- Assistance in manual and post-isometric therapy;
- Physiotherapy;
- Plastic massage;
- Correction of the patient's lifestyle and nutrition;
- Traction and fixation of the vertebrae.
In the case of grade 3 osteochondrosis, in addition to other methods, it is often necessary to resort to surgical intervention. Also, the medications listed can be combined with hormonal medications like prednisone.
Osteochondrosis is a serious disease that requires attention. To prevent its development, it is recommended to carry out several preventive procedures, add physical education to life and follow the rules of a healthy diet.